Mastering challenge plug-in

[Ben F]

Originally Posted by psykostx

I

Also: Anyone try Propellorhead Record yet...Reason had such a great sound and I always thought Propellorhead should make a mastering suite, but alas they went with recording...bet its still kickass tho!

Reason sounds terrible. If you export the tracks as audio and import them into another DAW the sound improves.

[mobius.media]

alogorithmix red
oxford limiter

and 3rd if allowed flux pure/solera compressor.

those three are the best imo

[RussMaGuss]

Originally Posted by Larry Mal

Russ: Under preferences, you'll find a plug in utility, I think it's called Audio Units Manager or something. Check out the screen shot. Anyway, if you don't see Ozone there, then you need to reinstall it more than likely. Did you have it install as an AU or VST?

But you really should make your own thread about this, we are derailing other folks discussions, OK? You can PM me if you have any further questions about this.

sh*t, it's a VST... Logic doesn't support vst's does it? (and sorry for derailing the thread a bit)

[Chris Lago]

Sonnox Limiter and ApEq

[bonne]

Proaudiodsp DSM and Sonnox Limiter.

The DSM for freq. spectrum and dynamics adjustments, and at the same time reigning in any HF distortions or vocal esses etc. Just the greatest single tool for these applications out there IMO. Takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it, but once you really understand how to use it - just amazing!

The Ox Limiter for a touch of limiting, a bit of harmonic saturation if the track calls for it and final intersample over protection and dither.

Between these two you'll also have all the clean power and presence you need.

If allowed a third plug, my choice would be the Ox Inflator for harmonic saturation. I'd run the Inflator on a parallel track about 9 dB down in relation to the main track. In this case I would not use the "enhance"/"safe mode" saturation on the Limiter.

All three plugs designed by Paul Frindle, who is a GS member and posts on this forum from time to time.

[kundevelop]

Originally Posted by bonne

Proaudiodsp DSM and Sonnox Limiter.

The DSM for freq. spectrum and dynamics adjustments, and at the same time reigning in any HF distortions or vocal esses etc. Just the greatest single tool for these applications out there IMO. Takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it, but once you really understand how to use it - just amazing!

The Ox Limiter for a touch of limiting, a bit of harmonic saturation if the track calls for it and final intersample over protection and dither.

Between these two you'll also have all the clean power and presence you need.

If allowed a third plug, my choice would be the Ox Inflator for harmonic saturation. I'd run the Inflator on a parallel track about 9 dB down in relation to the main track. In this case I would not use the "enhance"/"safe mode" saturation on the Limiter.

All three plugs designed by Paul Frindle, who is a GS member and posts on this forum from time to time.

Interesting point of view...cheers

faust

[virtualaudio]

If we discount the multi-function plugins like Ozone, then I'd pick Algorithmix Red and Elephant 3 (or the Sonnox Limiter if I had one!).

If we include the multi-function plugins, then Ozone 4 (great mid-side features and metering) and Algorithmix K-Stereo.

Wait, no, Voxengo Soniformer and Elephant 3... (I used the Soniformer for a long time).

Of course, this is a difficult hypothetical; sometimes even a well mixed track benefits from, say, the UAD Precision Maximizer or PSP Vintage Warmer (both better than the Ozone Harmonic stuff)...

Interestingly, though I love the UAD stuff, every time I engage the Precision EQ in the Mastering chain, I don't like how it makes the sound 'softer', probably due to its oversampling technique, though the UAD Pultec and Neve EQs don't exhibit the same problem. The Precision EQ is great on individual tracks, but as a mastering EQ, I think it falls short.

[kundevelop]

Voxengo Soniformer + elephant...interesting tool!

someone else have experiece with Voxengo Soniformer ?


faust

[Joe_caithness]

Originally Posted by kundevelop

interesting...I was thinking about Oxford Dynamics only for channel edit but yeah...why not.

Absolutely love Oxford Dynamics! one of the most flexible yet reliable compressors, well the best I have used in the box!

It's overall a mix tool obviously, gating, warmth etc

but that classic mode can really lend itself brilliant to tunes with short bursts of loud dynamic, rests then more bursts, like minimal techno or dubstep

[andivax]

sonnox limiter (sometimes it eats attacks).
uad precision maximizer (increase attacks but cut all peaks like hell).

i prefer sonnox in 90% of cases.

[cooker]

Got my sampled tubes and loving them (that makes minimum 3 for me) been experimenting and I have to say I don't think I can do without them

[tomasrangel]

T-Racks & Izotope Ozone. Anyway.. i dont live without a real valve.

[soundgeezer]

flux epure & sonnox limiter

[barrythave]

BX_digital
Sonnox Limiter

[msm07]

T-racks 3. I'm loving it more and more.

[bonne]

Originally Posted by bonne

Proaudiodsp DSM and Sonnox Limiter.

The DSM for freq. spectrum and dynamics adjustments, and at the same time reigning in any HF distortions or vocal esses etc. Just the greatest single tool for these applications out there IMO. Takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it, but once you really understand how to use it - just amazing!

The Ox Limiter for a touch of limiting, a bit of harmonic saturation if the track calls for it and final intersample over protection and dither.

Between these two you'll also have all the clean power and presence you need.

If allowed a third plug, my choice would be the Ox Inflator for harmonic saturation. I'd run the Inflator on a parallel track about 9 dB down in relation to the main track. In this case I would not use the "enhance"/"safe mode" saturation on the Limiter.

All three plugs designed by Paul Frindle, who is a GS member and posts on this forum from time to time.

Version 1.3 of the DSM has just been released. Now also supports VST for Mac and PC, and comes with better metering and a new and improved built-in limiter.

Pro Audio DSP - Professional Audio Plugins - Audio Units, Pro Tools and VST for Mac and PC

Highly recommended!

JB

[TyroneF]

if its down to just 2 then ... mine would be the Flux Epure o/r Brainworx digital & Sonnox Limiter

T

[Kayo]

Originally Posted by TyroneF

if its down to just 2 then ... mine would be the Flux Epure o/r Brainworx digital & Sonnox Limiter

T

Yeah, great choices Tikku... Although, I think you're a big fan of Plpar too, as per Sandy and Floyd.. :)
Yeah

Cheers,
FD

[xgabrielx]

waves api 2500
waves L2 or L3-LL

cheers

[Tarekith]

Elepant 3

Sonalksis Sv-517

[tomasrangel]

why not Waves Linear Multiband Compressor or Izotope Multiband Compressor DX and Voxengo Elephant.

[mljung]

Originally Posted by kundevelop

someone else have experiece with Voxengo Soniformer ?

faust

I do... It's the most flexible plugin I know of.
This would be one of my choices as well + a good limiter like Elephant or Ozone4 [with the added extra flexibility]...

Another combo could be Nebula+Ozone

::
Mads

[MatzeMillion]

+1 bx_digital and Sonnox Limiter

bx_digital cause of MS features and the de-esser, Sonnox because it can be transparent or a beast if you wish. Best IMO if you can't use a compressor and want it to breathe a little bit.

[kundevelop]

Challenge results ( on 29 - July - 2009 ):

alogorithmix =3
voxengo elephant =6
Ozone 4 =7
Massey Limiter =2
mastering package for nebula =2
Sonoris EQ2 =1
Crysonic Spectraphy =1
T-Racks =3
PSP Neon HR =1
Oxford Dynamics =1
Massenberg design Works =1
WAVES Renaissance Compressor =1
VoxengoSPAN =1
PSP Audios Vintage Warmer =1
Oxford Suppressor =1
Flux Pure Comp II =3
oxford limiter =9
ApEq =1
Proaudiodsp DSM =1
BX_digital =2
Brainworx digital =1
waves api 2500 =1
waves L2 or L3-LL =1
Sonalksis Sv-517 =1
Waves Multiband Compressor =1
Izotope Multiband Compressor DX =1
Voxengo Soniformer =2

thanx to everybody!
hope this thread can be usefull to other people like me that just want to send a premastered DEMO as good as possible to labels without spending to much time on mastering and using basically just 1 EQ and 1 Limiter...
and without pretending to compete to real ME and real ME studios with proper analog gear and experience... it is clear to everybody that digital plugs can't compete with analogue devices; like an high resolution digital picture will never be as beautiful as the original Leonardo's Gioconda...Tubes rulez

[mfender]

Guess I'm a shade too late here but I would have gone with:

PSP Neon HR + PSP Xenon

(Xenon is the most transparent plugin limiter I've found... I like transparent)

[ncoak]

Originally Posted by MatzeMillion

+1 bx_digital and Sonnox Limiter

bx_digital cause of MS features and the de-esser, Sonnox because it can be transparent or a beast if you wish. Best IMO if you can't use a compressor and want it to breathe a little bit.

word

[Muso]

Ozone 4 then Sonnox Limiter

I've a/b'd many but find the Sony to be the most transparent

[Bob Yordan]

DSM, by Paul Frindle & UAD PL. (or one of my own plugs).

[bonne]

The more I use the DSM and understand what it can do, from very, very subtle to all out drama, the more impressive it gets.

Multiband compression has been a dirty word for many users, due to the well known artefacts and degradation of sound, whether it be LP or MP. Now Paul Frindle seems to have found ways to do this right, and make a superior and multitalented tool that lends itself to a whole range of applications for single sounds, submixes, full mix or mastering.

It works very well for parallel MBC too, for those who wants to keep the source intact and just need to add-on a certain character in varying degrees. Very controlable. Just great!!

JB

[JPeters86]

IK opto comp and Ozone limiter. And Sonalksis EQ. Oh sorry, you said two